Simon Busuttil will not stay on as PN deputy leader

Simon Busuttil says he will not stay on as PN deputy leader, does not confirm intentions to contest leader position

PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil at the NAxxar counting hall.
PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil at the NAxxar counting hall.

PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil has declared that he will be stepping down as PN deputy leader, and will not seek re-election to the position.

At the same time, Busuttil however neither confirmed nor denied whether he would be throwing his hat in the ring for the party leadership position, saying he was still undecided.

Busuttil was speaking on TVAM on Thursday morning, where he stressed that the PN "needs to be brought into the 21st century."

Busuttil's comments come in the wake of a several statements over the past few days where he distanced himself from the campaign, admittoing that the election was a foregone conclusion before the campaign start in January.

Speaking to TVM on Monday, Busuttil said: "Everybody must assume responsibility, including myself, however it is evident that the margin is too big and was decided before the campaign started."

In a column he penned for The Times on Wednesday, Busuttil wrote: "When I decided to contest the deputy leadership of the party just a few days before the Government collapsed, I knew I that I was coming in at a very difficult time when the easiest thing for me to do was to stay out of it."

He added that before taking up the post, he was aware that Labour had an "almost unassailable lead" but stressed that he was "prepared to face the consequences."

Busuttil's statements attracted a certain amount of flak, most notably from Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo who told MaltaToday in no uncertain terms on Wednesday that Busuttil also had to step down the PN leadership to make way for new blood.

"So far only Dr Gonzi and Dr Borg Olivier have shouldered responsibility. Others should follow suit and not resort to excuses of coming here only recently. A clean and total change is the only remedy for such a disaster."

Arrigo went as far as to call for the complete removal of the so called 'clique' within the PN, insisting that the posts of party leader, deputy leader, and secretary-general, should be contested by new, fresh people.

He also went as far as to add that presidential posts in the party's executive committee and the administrative council should be similarly vacated and contested by new people.

avatar
dear simple simon ,i thought you were brighter than this, the klikka ate all the meat and then they send for you to mexxmexx the bones,take MR ARRIGO advise and leave before you take another one (TKAXKIRA)
avatar
U kif ma smajna xejn fuq il-kardianl u il-freedom fighter idealista voluntiera !!!lol tal- Bidnija? Dawn se jibqghu hemm ukoll?
avatar
simon taqtax qalbek, in numru ta voti li gibt fl-elezzjoni juru li int tajjeb u hadd ma jista jichdu dan...
avatar
Busuttil was brought back into active internal politics last year when he said the 'party was in meltdown'. Instead of resurrecting the Party he contributed to the final tsunami by his amateurish and often childish attitude. Simon 'withdraw' back to Brussels, at least where your performance will be more difficult to scrutinise!!
avatar
Is he no longer taking credit for PN's electoral manifestos for the last two General Elections? He keeps saying he has only been over for the last three months BUT IN ACTUAL FACT HE WAS ALWAYS THERE since he was Head of MIC!
avatar
Well Simon the thud which heralded your fall to earth after the PN electoral debuckle seems to have earned you a few smiles from all quarters and I say these were well deserved following your pompous entry in the local political scenario. Puncturing your performance with numerous gaffes and blunders that sized you down to the true proportion you belong in politics - immature!
avatar
Following the 'dropping of the pilot' I believe Dr. Busuttil should have returned to Brussels and retain his previous position.Yesterday Arrigo exchanged his views and the removal of the so called 'clique' should be removed. Maybe the party might recover in the coming decade!!!!!
avatar
Hekk ghandek tamel simon tipresenta ruhek ghal kap tal partit, biek bhala deputy il PN ha tkaxkira, u il PN ikollu lilek bhala kap langas jipqa jesisti, bil kemm int tajjeb ghal deputat ghax lanqas taf tirrispondi il mistoqsijit li il jurnalisti jamlulek, ghax dejjem xi skuza, hallina simon, sieb xoghl li forsi taf taghmel, tipqax tipresenta ruhek ghal ghafarijit li mintix kapaci, ghax GASDOWN GHAL GOL HALT TIPQA DIHEL.
avatar
Igor P. Shuvalov
After his performance during the recent election campaign, most probably Labour Party supporters are praying that Simon Busuttil actually enters the fray for Party leadership and will finally win the contest!!
avatar
What a pity. He was an asset to PL.